Hiker rescued by police while completing iconic NT trail

Hiker rescued by police while completing iconic NT trail

Emergency services were called to rescue a man hiking the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory last week after he became ill and activated his personal locator.

The 60-year-old man activated his beacon at 4:40 pm on Saturday, according to the ABC.

NT police launched a search and rescue operation around a remote location on the Larapinta Trail of Standley Chasm.

At 9:30 pm that evening the man was found by NT Police, NT Emergency Service and St John NT, police said.

Paramedics and police stayed with the man overnight while a helicopter was set to pick up the man at first light.

The man was then airlifted to Standley Chasm where an ambulance transported him to Alice Springs Hospital.

NT Police senior sergeant, Michael Potts, said the hiker had a personal locator beacon which he activated while he was in trouble.

“This probably saved his life,” Potts said.

“A number of hikers have suffered from heat stress recently and it is incredibly important that anyone heading out bush takes proper precautions, stays hydrated and is prepared for the unexpected.”

The ABC reported that a 22-year-old man died on the Larapinta Trail earlier this month after he collapsed between the Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap.

Two other groups were rescued by emergency services in the same week due to dehydration and heat stress.

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